17∙00∙00 ☇ video + action.

[saidrepent]

[Maybe some people have noticed that the City has been short one timekeeper for the past few days, maybe not. Either way, he looks pretty shaken up when the camera switches on to show his face, and he's breathing heavily like he's just run a mile.]

Could somebody tell me... [He pauses, swallows, looks around; the camera shows enough of his surroundings to indicate he's near the fountain.] Someone tell me what day it is. Now. [And then he switches the feed off.

For those in the area, though, he isn't moving from his spot near the fountain anytime soon. His gun is out and set next to him, right next to his device, and when his face isn't in his hands, he's clutching tightly at a spot just above his left wrist. Whatever's going on, it looks as though he's had one hell of a bad day.]

( OOC: so, Raymond here was out of the City for the past few days for a canon update! for anyone familiar with his canon, he's now been taken from literally two seconds before he times out. for anyone who isn't . . . well, let's just say that's not a good place for him to be! )

Comments

[saidrepent]

[It takes him a moment, but he pushes off the door to follow her into the kitchen.]

What kind?

[archivy]

Macaroni. With a lot of cheese. [ She's already eaten, but there's a bowl for him that she's putting in the microwave now. ]

[saidrepent]

[He takes off his coat once he's in the kitchen, drapes it over the back of a chair and settles in. He's taking off his vest as well, forgetting for the moment that his clock is bared.]

Sounds good.

[archivy]

[ She can't help but see the time (or lack thereof) on the clock, but she doesn't comment, instead just reaching up to get his bowl out of the microwave again and holding it out to him. ]

Be careful, it's quite hot.

[ She missed him. That's— worrying in itself. ]

[saidrepent]

Thank you.

[He takes the bowl from her and starts to eat, making no comment on the temperature. His eyes are lowered, as well; all the better to keep him from eyeing the time he has left.]

[archivy]

You're welcome.

[ She settles in one of the kitchen chairs, drawing her feet up on the edge of the chair and wrapping her arms around her knees.

Finally, hesitantly: ] Are you all right?

[saidrepent]

[Raymond stops at that, though his gaze is still lowered.]

I don't know.

[archivy]

[ She nods, slowly. That is something she can relate to, at least.

Frowning. Usually, she just knows, but this is new, and she isn't quite certain what to do, what to say. ]

If you want to talk about it— [ she'll listen. It can't be worse than what she already knows. ]

[saidrepent]

[That brings him to a stop again. Talking things through isn't a luxury he's used to having, not for all his seventy-five years of life — certainly not for the two seconds he ought to have left of it.]

I don't know. [He means that, at last somewhat sincerely.] I don't think there's anything to talk about.

[archivy]

That is all right.

[ She isn't exactly good at it. Or at least she doesn't think she is. She hasn't ever done it, if for completely different reasons than he. ]

[saidrepent]

[He only nods and keeps eating. If it's fine by her, he's not going to speak again until after he's done, or maybe even after that.]

[archivy]

[ If he doesn't mind that she'll just stay in her chair and watch him eat silently.

And should he be going to the living room after, she'll follow as well. It's past her bedtime, technically, but she can't quite bring herself to leave his side just yet. ]

[saidrepent]

[He doesn't mind. But by the time they're both in the living room, on the couch, he is a little confused.]

Shouldn't you be in bed by now?

[archivy]

Yes. [ But she makes no move to get up. ]

[saidrepent]

[Right. He's her bodyguard, not her parent. There's no need for him to care whether she goes or not.

So he lets himself settle into the couch, head tipped back and eyes closed. Anything to keep himself from thinking about that green glow.]

[archivy]

[ She stays on her side of the couch, but eventually shifts closer. He was there for her when she needed someone, and despite it all, contact helped. Maybe it'll make him feel better, too. If not, he can always push her away.

Decision made, she carefully leans against his side. ]

[saidrepent]

[Raymond tenses at first, but he makes no move to push her away. He stays just like that for a moment, and while he isn't quite relaxed again just yet, he moves an arm to wrap around her anyway.]

[archivy]

[ That he tenses makes her question her choice for a moment, but then there is an arm around her and — for all that she should not want contact and attachment, she does and he was gone.

She'll just stay right where she is. ]